Liberals long ago created a caricature of Conservatives that they have now cemented in their minds as factual. When they say "old angry white men" they honestly believe it. When they cry racist, bigot, homophobe, science denier, etc. they're not just doing it to avoid having an actual debate -- although that's a result -- they actually believe their own cartoon creation. Liberals live in a universe of willful self-deception.

The mistake is to assume that Obama and other Democrats care. They've manipulated the law through three elections by selective credits, delays, adjustments, and exemptions. Now that it's time for Americans to pay the piper, they'll simply wash their hands of it and lay it at the feet of congressional Republicans, who are too terrified to repeal Obamacare. Democrats have managed to take whatever credit for "free healthcare" that might exist, while avoiding responsibility for the pain and suffering they've caused. Democrats Simply. Don't. Care.

I have no problem with using government to advance Conservative principles. That's what winning elections is supposed to get you. However, I believe it should be a process of subtraction rather than addition.

I've wondered for the last several years at the lack of a self preservation instinct among my people -- Liberal Americans when it comes to defending the country, and Republicans when it comes to winning at government. Liberals jump to the defense of those who attack us, many of whom fit a pretty specific profile. A Liberal college student excuses and defends the mugger who took his wallet, saying that because of his white privilege he *deserved* to be robbed. Republican leadership hems and haws about immigration policies which everyone predicts will benefit Democrats and hurt Republicans. They conduct polls which ask what national issues are uppermost in the minds of voters, then either ignore those concerns or introduce legislation that exacerbates rather than resolves the issues. Another person's stupidity only bothers me when it affects my well-being, and stupid people seem to be more and more in charge of our world.

Stossel's argument makes sense from the point of view that humans surviving is a good thing. Problems arise when those who think that humans are a problem, and that the planet would be better off without humans, influence public policy or -- God forbid -- actually take control of making that policy. Such nutcases used to be called out for what they were, or Darwin Awards-esque consequences removed them before they became a problem. Oh, how we long for the good old days.

The Republican party has shown its willingness before, to engage in deranged self-immolation. GOP leaders are partners with the Left in considering "survival" a lower-level characteristic. It would be absolutely consistent for them to win the majority and then hand Democrats a weapon which Democrats took away from Republicans.

Far be it from me to disagree with Mona Charen's better-informed opinions, but she doesn't mention one pertinent point. Many, if not most, Republican voters feel betrayed by Republican leadership. We feel as though Republican politicians tell us one thing when campaigning, yet govern in ways antithetical to our own beliefs and values. Democrats do the same thing, of course, campaigning on smaller government (tax cuts, more "efficiency" etc.) but Democrats seem much more forgiving of a win-at-all-costs mentality that forgives lying. When elected Republicans do things that they said they were against, many Republican voters throw up their hands in disgust and give up trying.

"Obama was unmoved by the voters' angry rejection of his presidency, policies and programs." I disagree. I believe that Obama's vanity was shaken by the results of the election, as well as by his being made a pariah by Democrat candidates who didn't want to be near him while campaigning. Obama has shown himself to be arrogant and narcissistic. These last few months -- including his bottomed-out poll numbers -- might have humbled a normal person. Instead, Obama is angry and throwing a tantrum.